Neil Sedaka is Suing us for libel.....

March 2011
Reviews


Riot-Fire Down Under

If Ted Nugent joined Iron Maiden to be a Scorpions cover band- that's Riot. Some downright awesome guitar solos within pretty good representative songs of the 80s metal scene. I wish my hair was the length it was back in 1981 for optimal neck bobbing. Worst part of this album is the cover. WTF? Unless it was an actual nod to what the Nuge was hunting at the time. Funny thing  is I thought this was Ra Ra Riot's latest.... 3.0

Wire-Red Barked Trees

Unremarkable though palatable aged-alt-rock. RBT is a definite shift from their "Pink Flag" debut 30 years ago where frenetic 30 sec to 2 minute songs are replaced with deliberate bass droned faire. Wire can still rock out ("Mover", "Smack") but they seem to need to slow it down a little in between to catch their breath. While still a decent release a little 5 hour energy would have gone a long way.. 3.0

T.R- Anyting/Something?

Utter disappointment. I was expecting more, but not more of the same song over and over. Besides the decent studio production there is little from this disc is that I can classify as interesting. It's one Broadway musical show filler after another. It's all in the same key, tempo and the melodies just float within the major chord being played. Todd stretches a little on Little Red Lights and Black Maria but that's it. I know I'll be tsked by the elders of the group but this is really a boring listen - IMHO of course... 1.0

MT St Helen's Vietnam Band- Where the Messengers meet

In my internal music categories this falls into prog rock. I hear early Genesis and when they turn it up a notch I hear Porcupine Tree. This band is chock full of good musicians who can change a time signature on a wink. Problem is, there is nothing emotional that compels me to care. Of course I am probably wrong. The band is probably very emotionally vested and in-tune with what they are playing, but nonetheless, I don't feel it... 2.0

Amos Lee-Mission Bell

I expected to dispel this in one listen. But after the first listen, much to my chagrin, I felt it needed another listen. I found myself liking the stripped down songs because with a full band and production Amos does dive deep into the American Idol pool. His songs with his guitar and voice as the focal have more empathy and interest. His voice is quite good, but it is almost too pristine and needs a few more frogs or gnarls. Good tunes, so-so lyrics, good voice at times too slickly produces... 2.5

Accordian

I'm a sucker for cajun and bluegrass as well as bastard child instruments in rock songs. The accordian performs one or more of three functions when added to a song; 1) creates a sense of humor and/or whimsy, 2) gives a down home happy  air, or 3) saddens a song and pulls on the heartstrings. It's best used in limited quantities in rock so not to "Hooterize" a song and it has to be played well. I say thank you Monsta for bringing on the Accordian

Topic

5-10 albums we think would get 4s all around. In the spirit of the question I did not use any music we have already officially DownYourNosed and have done my best to de-D'Arcy-ize it while selecting recordings I believe everyone knows.

·         Beatles- Revolver

·         Led Zeppelin- Houses of the Holy

·         Matthew Sweet- Girlfriend

·         AC/DC- Highway to Hell

·         Cracker- Cracker

·         Guns and Roses- Appetite for Destruction

·         Lemonheads- It's a Shame about Ray

·         Fountains of Wayne- Welcome Interstate Managers

·         Queen- News to the World

·         Sex Pistols- Never Mind the Bollocks